do. and good morning, everybody. happy christmas eve. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm brandi hitt, sitting in for paula faris today. >> right now, northern california is getting chance to dry out after blast of severe weather. >> last-minute shoppers in most of the country will have tranquil weather today with a notable exception. we begin with john schriffen. >> reporter: it's the christmas trip turned travel nightmare for drivers on the east and west coast. in northern california, with more snow expected to blanket the mountains, cars are having trouble staying on the roads. >> the roads are pretty bad. there's a lot of spinouts further east. there's definitely going to be chain control for the nest two days at least going into christmas. >> reporter: with warmer temperatures in the bay area, the pounding rain has been the big hazard.

near san jose, this bad accident happened, after one driver going too fast skidded across five lanes crashing into the other. no one was hurt. >> people are still driving fast. you have to watch out for them and try to slow down a little bit and anticipate the worst of what other people may do when they hit puddles or something. >> reporter: in syracuse, new york, plows are working overtime. dealing with two consecutive days of snow this weekend. leaving this car stuck with no place to go. >> the weather was bad. the winds were bad. blowing the cars around. you could see the semis were swerving. >> reporter: it's the city's first snowstorm of the season. many are bracing for more to come. john schriffen, abc news, new york. >> all right, thanks, john. one area of severe weather to keep an eye on. accuweather meteorologist andrew baglini has the latest. good morning, andrew. >> while most of the nation will seem relatively tranquil for the

holidays, we're tracking one disturbance that will give us bad weather. eastern texas around the houston area, thunderstorms will pop up. that spreads eastward throughout christmas tuesday. louisiana, mississippi, alabama, georgia, interstates 10 and 20, large hail, damaging wind gusts, torrential downpours, the throat for a tornado. a destructive storm system on this tuesday. the highest threat for tornadoes around new orleans, mobile, interstate 10 northward into the panhandle of florida. definitely be on alert throughout the christmas tuesday. good snow across portions of the plains. >> i hate to see rough weather this time of the year. folks hitting the road and holidays. yeah. let's look at weather from across the country on this christmas eve. last-minute shoppers in boston and chicago could see light know. also early showers and clearing in l.a. rain in louisville and cincinnati. >> and blast of arctic air is hitting the upper midwest. fargo barely makes it above

zero. honolulu and miami, the hot spots, near 80. seattle and portland, the 40s. in other news this morning, a senator from idaho is apologizing today after being arrested for driving drunk. police in suburban washington say mike crapo was pulled over after running a red light yesterday. he failed several sobriety tests. he was taken to jail and released on bond. he's expected to be in court in january. he says he takes total responsibility. overseas to afghanistan. abc news has learned a top navy s.e.a.l. commander has died. the death of 42-year-old job price is being investigated as suicide. military officials say he died of a gunshot wound. he was a member of s.e.a.l. team 4, a special navy warfare unit. only one week to go now and there is still no deal preventing the economy from going over that now infamous fiscal cliff. members of congress are still pointing fingers over who is to blame for the lack of progress.

to prevent the tax hikes and spending cuts from aching effect january 1st. meanwhile, connecticut's independent senator, joe lieberman, expects congress to work right up until the new year's eve deadline. he's not sure that will be enough. >> it's the first time that i feel like it's more likely that we'll go over the cliff than not. if we allow that to happen, it will be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time. >> the president and congress are on short holiday breaks. they're due back later in the week. one possibility in all of this mess is a partial deal on taxes while putting off agreement on spending until some time down the road. former president george h.w. bush may be spending christmas in the hospital. he's been there since thanksgiving. he's battling bronchitis and a lingering cough. doctors say he's in stable condition but needs to build up

his energy. south africans are sending warm wishes to former president nelson mandela. he's been in the hospital for more than two weeks with a lung infection. he also has gall stone surgery as well. he's said to be in no imminent danger. he's 94 years old. and margaret thatcher is recuperating in the hospital. she underwent some surgery last week. she's 87 years old and has faced a number of health challenges the past decade. we wish all of those leaders well. as they try to recuperate and get back on their feet. >> a speedy recovery. still ahead this morning, if you didn't know, it's national eggnog day. rob is happy. of course appropriate for christmas eve. and for the procrastinators among us, a last-second trip to the mall. it might be worth your while. and then the withering criticism being aimed at the nra. the heated debate over guns is

ahead.

welcome back. well, so far, it's been a quiet holiday season at the malls. analysts say shoppers are worried about the budget stalemate in washington or they're delayed by superstorm sandy or depressed by the connecticut school shootings. >> as we hear from nick watt, the holiday shopping season is not over yet. >> reporter: we have just entered the final frantic hours of gift buying. you look stressed. >> i have a little anxiety. i'm not going the lie. i'm tripping out. >> reporter: there are crumbs of comfort. the sign says the delayed gifts might be the best.

number one, frugality i vap rates. you throw money at the problem. number two, you make a gut instinct decision. >> you want to buy a sweater for your wife. if you think about it too much, you may outthink yourself and not make a good choice. >> reporter: you to feel you perform better under pressure? >> absolutely. you have to make a good decision. you have to make a decision. >> reporter: stores stay open for the last-minute larrys. target until 10:00 p.m. walgreen's is open christmas day. another advantage of last minute is the sales have already begun. the late bird can catch the best worm. nick watt, abc news, los angeles. >> happy shopping, everybody. some shoppers may have been waiting for the sales to begin. others may be proe contrast narts like many of us.

"consumer reports" says 17 million people will shop today. more than 60% will slow in the towel and buy gift cards. that's my plan. many federal workers have more time to shop. the president gave them the day off. the financial markets are closing early, as are most post offices. express mail packages will be delivered on christmas day. also in the mail this week, the final print edition of "newsweek" magazine. they become digital-only in the new year. the final cover is an old photo of the manhattan office building of "newsweek." and fantasy beats gritty realism. "the hobbit" was first for the second straight weekend. the movie took in $37 million, more than double any other

movie. the tom cruise action thriller, "jack reemp" was second. and the come by, "this is 40" opened in third. when we come back, stunning words from mitt romney's son about whether his dad ever really wanted to be president. also, throwing it all way. a misplaced pass leads to playoff hopes dashed. stay with us.

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daisy is 100% pure with nothing else added. meals are simply better with a dollop of daisy. ♪ ♪ do a dollop, do, do a dollop of daisy ♪ some pretty heavy snow is making it a great holiday week for skiers around lake tahoe. drivers, not so much. some resorts got up to three feet over the weekend with another foot or two expected overnight. it goes without saying, they'll be enjoying a white christmas there on the slopes. >> wow. now for a look at the morning road conditions out there.

slippery and louisville and cincinnati with morning rain. light snow in boston, chicago, detroit, and cleveland. if you're flying today, airport delays possible in los angeles, denver, new orleans, atlanta, and here in new york city. now to the gun control debate. the nra is refruzing to back down from its call for armed officers in our schools. >> connecticut congressman chris murphy, whose district includes newtown, calls the idea toen deaf and revolting. >> reporter: the nra stuck by its guns, that every american school should have an armed guard. >> if it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy. >> the n rarks has blood on its hands. >> reporter: amid protesters and refusing to take questions, the head of the nra announced this

plan. >> when they horrible monster tried to shoot his way into sandy hook school, that if a good guy with a gun had been there, he might have been able to stop him. >> reporter: the murder massacre in newtown has led for some nra supporters to call for control of some guns and clips. >> then you saying that the gun control debate shouldn't be part of this at all? >> sure, i mean, congress will beba debate this. i don't think it's part of the ultimate solution. >> reporter: one district in new jersey will place armed guards in schools, to the disapproval of the governor. >> you don't want to make this an armed camp for kids. i don't think that's a positive example. >> reporter: the majority of americans favor more restrictions on gun ownership. that may be the reason other gun owners are flocking to gun stores. >> we have never seen anything

like this. we have christmas business, the hunting season business, and now the political business. >> reporter: la pierre was pressed time and again on whether he would agree to one change in gun laws. he refruzed to answer or chanled the subject. he said the gun is a tool, the problem are criminals. david kerley, abc news, washington. in other news this morning, a veteran of capitol hill was laid to rest in his home state of hawaii. in attendance was president obama. a 19-cannon salute was fired at senator daniel inouye's funeral. he died laths week at the age of 88. new insight into mitt romney's failed presidential run. tagg romney says his dad never

wanted the top job. he wanted to be president less than anyone i have met in my life, says tagg. he said his father is a very private person who simply does not like attention. >> interesting field to get into if you don't like attention. out in space, a unique holiday show going on. jupiter and the moon will be in con vux in the evening. they're already close together in the sky and bright enough to be visible around the world, even if you're in a big city. >> with a home telescope you can see the moons, the mountains, the krarts. with the naked eye, you'll be able to see the show. enjoy a little, you know, christmas -- a different kind of christmas gift. time for sot highlights from week 16 of the nfl. we get them from espn.

cassidy hubbarth with your espn update. the steelers trying to stay in the playoff hunt. 24 seconds left in the game. ben roet, picked off by reggie nelson. he returns it to the slrs 46. the bengals regain possession. next play, 14 seconds left. andy dalton. hits a.j. green along the sidelines for gain of 21. ten catches for 116 yards for green. josh brown hits the 43-yarder for the win. and the bengals punch the ticket to the playoffs. the loss eliminates the steelers. colts looking to clinch a bayoff berth. indy up, 10-3. the andrew luck pass breaks cam newton's rookie passing record. leading the colts to a field goal. the chiefs stuck around, thanks to this man, jamaal charles.

his third 80-yard td of the season. in the fourth quarter, we're tied up at 13-13. third and goal. and luck -- finds reggie wayne in the back of the end zone. luck with his seventh game-winning drive this season as the colts win, 20-13. i'm cassidy hubbarth with your sportscenter upday. have great day. up next, "the pulse." some say the case from iowa turns women's rights back decades. and we all know this guy, psy. now a historymaker. "the pulse" is coming up next. ♪ gangnam style

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at petsmart®. ♪ here comes santa claus here comes santa claus right down santa claus lane ♪ time to check "the pulse." don't mind if we do. not only is today christmas eve. it's national -- boom -- eggnog day. >> it's a little messy. sorry i'm getting that all over the place. >> still cold and delicious. salute, everybody. >> made from milk, spices, sugar and -- if you're making your own, there are unpasteurized eggs. >> before pasteurization, brandy

or rum was add. >> nobody spikes it. >> this is good. now a simply stunning case from iowa. get this. >> it centers on a woman, 32 years old, mother of two. worked in a dentist office for ten years. she was fired because her boss said she was too tempting and a threat to his marriage. >> on friday, iowa's all male supreme court unanimously agreed with knight saying he was just fied because he saw nelson as quote, an irresistible attraction. wow. and finally, gangnam style making youtube history. the video of the year is the first ever youtube video to be viewed 1 billion times. billion with a "b." >> it was posted back in july.

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captioned by closed captioning services, inc. good morning. it is 6:28 on this monday christmas eve. i'm katie marzullo in for kristen sze. >> only one more day to shop. let's find out what the weather is going to be lining. here's mike. good question. here's a look at live doppler 7 hd, much quieter than it has been in a long time. it is showing a few radar returns that is just a cloud or two shooting into it clouds not dropping rain, dry this morning, there's fog very patchy and widespread but it is out there. good news, we are off to a dry start.

this afternoon partly cloudy, upper 40s to near 50 along the coast, low to mid 40s for the rest of us. traffic this morning,7úr sue is off so katie and i will be handling the duties if that doesn't frighten you. i-80 through berkeley, sailing on this christmas eve morning. maybe a bit crowded later today as people head towards the malls. golden gate bridge a little mist, very little traffic at this 4:29 in the morning this would be a great time to get on the road in the north bay. >> much better than yesterday weather-wise. not driving rainstorm as people cross there is snow, chains required on 50 between twin bridges and meyers also on the 80 between baxter and truckee.

chains if you are heading to the snow. emergency officials are keeping a close eye on the levees lining up flooded peninsula creek. waters chased hundreds out of their homes and threatens to overwhelm those levees. >> reporter: take a look at the creek, it runs along the border of menlo park and east palo alto, still flowing rapidly. nothing compared to what it was like last night. last night 100 people were evacuated the water surged the emergency calls went out, emergency crews drove down the street telling people it was time to get out. there was flooding, not too bad. we talked to a woman about it. >> i looked out the window and i seen the lights flashing. i look and it is just flooded. i was